Twitter alert sent out in bid to hunt fire hoaxers

It costs the taxpayer almost £2,000 on average every time a fire engine is put into action, so it’s no laughing matter when pranksters are behind a 999 call.

Herts Fire and Rescue Service is sending out warnings via social networking site Twitter that it will hunt hoax callers and, working with police, will get mobile phones of most prolific offenders cut off.